Israel Oluyemi
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, says it is calling on Nigerian authorities and humanitarian organisations to act quickly to address the worsening health crisis in Borno State.
The organisation says it is deeply concerned about severe shortages of medical supplies, critical staff gaps, and reduced funding that put thousands of lives at risk.
According to MSF’s Project Coordinator, Ms. Daniela Batista, “shortages of therapeutic milk and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) are worsening the crisis.”
MSF explains that a sharp rise in child malnutrition and measles outbreaks overwhelms feeding and isolation centres, with many facilities struggling to provide even basic care.
Batista says, “although admissions have slightly decreased, our isolation units remain 70 per cent full,” adding that bed capacity at Nilefa Kiji Hospital was nearly doubled to accommodate severely malnourished children.”
It notes that the situation is most alarming in Maiduguri, where health centres operate beyond capacity, but similar crises are emerging in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, and Bauchi.
The group says it issues the urgent appeal on Thursday after scaling up its response since late August and observing the crisis worsen by mid-September 2025.
Batista explains that by mid-September, “the emergency facility is recording more than 85 new admissions per day.”
MSF adds that it expands bed capacity at Nilefa Kiji Hospital, treats thousands of malnourished children, refers many for further care, and works with the Borno State Ministry of Health to strengthen primary healthcare centres and improve access to treatment.
Batista stresses that “some local facilities only accept patient referrals if MSF supplies antibiotics, admission kits, and milk,” underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action.